Jesus the Prophet

Anticipating the Savior Jesus the Prophet - Acts 3:19-23 December 7, 2025 This morning, we begin our Christmas series we're calling Anticipating the Savior. In this series, we're going to explore the three offices of the Messiah. These offices are Prophet (which we'll be exploring today), Priest, and King. The language here is important. Don't miss this, Jesus occupies and fulfills all three of these offices. Notice how we are not saying "or" but, we're instead saying "and." To say it another way, when looking at the totality of Messianic prophecies, we see that the Messiah was to occupy the office of Prophet, Priest, and King. That's what we will be doing for the next three weeks in this series as we approach the celebration of the arrival of the Messiah - Jesus Christ. Or "anticipating the Savior." In order to do this, I'll be approaching this sermon with a much different format than you may be used to. We're just going answer a bunch of questions. These questions, theoretically, will affirm this statement, which I'm using today as our main idea: Jesus occupied and fulfilled the office of Prophet. The first question may be too obvious, but we'll ask it anyway. What is a prophet? * Simply stated, a prophet communicates the Word of God to the people of God. * Often, I think many of us believe that the prophet primarily foretold the future. But that doesn't cover it all. * Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said it this way: "the most important responsibility of the Old Testament prophet did not really entail foretelling so much as it entailed forthtelling." * So, we see that the prophet proclaims God's Word to His people, foretells of future events, but the prophet of God - many times - also performed miracles to point people to God. * So, as we read God's Word, we must seek to understand what He is telling us. * Now we sort of know what to look for in a prophet. * I think this is where the next question must be asked: Does the Old Testament say that the Messiah was to be a prophet? * Short answer? Yes. * Long answer? Let's take a look at Deuteronomy 18:15-22 to see what Moses said: 15 "THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM AMONG YOU, FROM YOUR BROTHERS-IT IS TO HIM YOU SHALL LISTEN- 16 JUST AS YOU DESIRED OF THE LORD YOUR GOD AT HOREB ON THE DAY OF THE ASSEMBLY, WHEN YOU SAID, 'LET ME NOT HEAR AGAIN THE VOICE OF THE LORD MY GOD OR SEE THIS GREAT FIRE ANY MORE, LEST I DIE.' 17 AND THE LORD SAID TO ME, 'THEY ARE RIGHT IN WHAT THEY HAVE SPOKEN. 18 I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PROPHET LIKE YOU FROM AMONG THEIR BROTHERS. AND I WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE SHALL SPEAK TO THEM ALL THAT I COMMAND HIM. 19 AND WHOEVER WILL NOT LISTEN TO MY WORDS THAT HE SHALL SPEAK IN MY NAME, I MYSELF WILL REQUIRE IT OF HIM. 20 BUT THE PROPHET WHO PRESUMES TO SPEAK A WORD IN MY NAME THAT I HAVE NOT COMMANDED HIM TO SPEAK, OR WHO SPEAKS IN THE NAME OF OTHER GODS, THAT SAME PROPHET SHALL DIE.' 21 AND IF YOU SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'HOW MAY WE KNOW THE WORD THAT THE LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN?'- 22 WHEN A PROPHET SPEAKS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, IF THE WORD DOES NOT COME TO PASS OR COME TRUE, THAT IS A WORD THAT THE LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN; THE PROPHET HAS SPOKEN IT PRESUMPTUOUSLY. YOU NEED NOT BE AFRAID OF HIM. * Verse 15 - likely unknown to Moses at the time - was pointing towards Jesus. We'll see this a bit later this morning. * So again, as we read the Scriptures, we're looking for Jesus within them. * The next question to consider this morning is this: Did Jesus call Himself a prophet? * Here are a few examples: in Mark 6:4 ... JESUS SAID TO THEM, "A PROPHET IS NOT WITHOUT HONOR, EXCEPT IN HIS HOMETOWN AND AMONG HIS RELATIVES AND IN HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD." * Luke records the same account in Luke 4:24, and John confirms this in John 4:44 as well. * In Luke 13:33, Jesus says: NEVERTHELESS, I MUST GO ON MY WAY TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THE DAY FOLLOWING, FOR IT CANNOT BE THAT A PROPHET SHOULD PERISH AWAY FROM JERUSALEM.' * We mentioned earlier that a large function of the prophet was forthtelling. * So, when Jesus spoke about His death and resurrection, for example, we can be sure He was speaking with authority. * This is key. It amazes me that there are so-called people of faith who do not believe in the authority of the Scriptures. * Pray for faith. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truth that is within the Scriptures. * For example, when Jesus Himself spoke about His Second Coming, we can be certain of this, in faith. * Recall how John 1:1 calls Jesus "the Word." * In Hebrews 1:2, it is revealed that the Word of God came through His Son Jesus * This leads us to our next question. Did others call Jesus a prophet? * This is really where one of our main texts comes into play. Peter, early in the book of Acts preaches a sermon to the "MEN OF ISRAEL" - as seen in Acts 3:12. Peter had a specific reason for the message in this sermon. The immediate context comes from Acts 3:1-11, where Peter and John heal a lame beggar. To paint this picture further, Peter and John perform a great miracle, in the name of Jesus, so the people became amazed. Peter took advantage of this captive audience to point them to Jesus. * What a great lesson for you and me in our personal evangelism. When the opportunity arises, are we point people to Jesus? * I love the description of Peter about Jesus. He calls Him the HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS ONE, and the AUTHOR OF LIFE in verses 14-15. In other words, Peter is about to tell the MEN OF ISRAEL that they turned over the One in which they were supposedly expecting, through the prophets in which they supposedly followed. So, here's what Peter preached to this crowd in Acts 3:19-23: 19 REPENT THEREFORE, AND TURN BACK, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, 20 THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AND THAT HE MAY SEND THE CHRIST APPOINTED FOR YOU, JESUS, 21 WHOM HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE UNTIL THE TIME FOR RESTORING ALL THE THINGS ABOUT WHICH GOD SPOKE BY THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS LONG AGO. 22 MOSES SAID, 'THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BROTHERS. YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM IN WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. 23 AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERY SOUL WHO DOES NOT LISTEN TO THAT PROPHET SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM THE PEOPLE.' * Later, in Acts 7, Stephen identified Jesus as the promised prophet of Deuteronomy 18. Recall, Stephen was stoned after this sermon. * What can we learn about the message of Jesus as prophet from this passage? o First, the Message begins with repentance. o Isn't it interesting that the Old Testament prophets (to include John the Baptist) preached this same message? o Isn't it interesting that the Apostles preached this same message? o Purely a coincidence, right? * Peter here urges the Jews to TURN BACK, so that their sins may be forgiven. o The idea of turning back emphasizes the work of Jesus in restoring sinful mans relationship with God the Father. o The relationship that remains broken without Jesus. o So, Jesus came with that message. Thus, we can celebrate His First Coming. * In verses 20-22, Peter reiterates to the "MEN OF ISRAEL" that the One whom they gave over (see again verse 13) is the One who was promised by Moses, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and later in verses 24-25, all of the prophets that followed, beginning with Samuel. * You see, Jesus had to occupy the office of prophet, because He was the Only One who could fulfill the prophesies * Finally, look at verse 23 again. o What's a bit tricky about this verse is the audience that Moses was addressing, which was the next generation of the people of Israel that entered the Promised Land. o But, as we've seen, Peter affirms that this promise was about Jesus. o So, when Peter applies it here (and Stephen later), we see that there is a judgement attached to not following the Prophet - the Messiah, Jesus. o This is where we must be concerned about others. o This is why we must share this same message. * So, I suppose there's at least one more question to be answered. Was Jesus the promised Prophet? * We already saw both Peter in Acts 3 and Stephen in Acts 7 affirm this. * So, let's look elsewhere for more evidence, if you will. * So, lets begin with Jesus. * What can we see in Jesus' own ministry to answer this question? * I think the Sermon on the Mount is the perfect place to begin. * There's a formula - if you will - that we see, beginning in Matthew 5 where Jesus says ... YOU HAVE HEARD IT WAS SAID ... BUT I SAY TO YOU. o What He does here is clarify what the heart of the Law really said. * Then, we fast forward to Matthew 7:28-29, as the Sermon concludes. Here's what Matthew shares: 28 AND WHEN JESUS FINISHED THESE SAYINGS, THE CROWDS WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS TEACHING, 29 FOR HE WAS TEACHING THEM AS ONE WHO HAD AUTHORITY, AND NOT AS THEIR SCRIBES. * The people recognized the authoritative Message of Jesus. o That same message that began with "REPENT" continued to expand into how to live as one who was born again - changed by that Message of repentance and the promises that come with the Gospel. o Mohler again says it this way: "Christ fulfills the office of prophet by communicating a righteous way of living in the world which first and foremost loves and obeys God in heart and mind." * Another way that we see Jesus fulfill the office of prophet was through His miracles. o John's Gospel is a great place to see many of Jesus' miracles, where we see the purpose of them, which was to draw them to faith. o In fact, John's Gospel also introduces us to Jesus' "I AM" statements, which was an obvious call back to Exodus 3 and following where God told Moses to say that "I AM" sent him to deliver His people from bondage. * So, we can confidently say, as we did earlier in our main idea: Jesus occupied and fulfilled the office of Prophet. So, I suppose we have one more question, don't we? Why is this important for us today? I think there are at least three reasons: * When I know Jesus, I know the Father. o This points to the work of salvation in our lives. o When you know Jesus, and choose to follow Him, your relationship with God is restored. o Jesus spoke these prophetic words. o Jesus lived the life that we could not live, so that we can be reconciled with God. o In John 14:9, we're told that if we have seen Jesus, then we have seen God. o Just before this (in verse 6), Jesus said that He was the only way to the Father. o This is why - even in 2025 - we celebrate Christmas. o This is why even though Jesis has already come, and gone, and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, we can still celebrate. o Because without Christ's First Coming, there is no promise or hope for His Second Coming. o So, we must turn to Jesus and follow Him. o Next, * When I know Jesus, I know my standing before God. o Notice how each of these are about "knowing" o Christianity is relational. o It's a personal relationship with God that is only possible through Jesus. o The works of Jesus - to include the prophet Word, to His miracles, to His death and resurrection - were all necessary for us to know God, and therefore to know where we stand before Him o Again, we return to His Message - "repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand" o When we repent, we are turning away from sin, and to our Creator God, and therefore declared righteous before Him once we place our faith in Jesus. o When we're declared righteous because of God's grace, we know we are secure. o This is the assurance we get from Jesus' office and role as prophet, in addition to the assurance we get from His disciples, in which He commissioned before He ascended, and in which were empowered by the Holy Spirit, that preached the same message. o Jesus' office as prophet makes this possible. o Finally, * When I know Jesus, I know His Word is final. o The Bible is the final authority o Jesus, occupying and fulfilling the role of prophet, is the confirmation of this very fact. o This is why Moses warned of false prophets way back in Deuteronomy 18 o This is why Jeremiah warned of false prophets o This is why Paul warned the Galatians about people bringing another Gospel o This is why Peter warned of false prophets and what they do to people o This is why John was warned about the false prophets as he recorded the events of the end times o Jesus is the final Word. * As we alluded to earther, this is confirmed in both John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:1 I know that a lot of information was shared today, leaving us with three simple truths about what Jesus accomplishes as prophet. Friends, as we anticipate the Savior this Christmas season, we must first respond to His message. Have you done that? Have you shared that message with others? How will you respond today to that message? Let's pray. 2